Odd-Even formula, days finalised but no decision on Sundays

The Delhi government on Sunday divided the week between vehicles with odd and even registration numbers, as Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur gave his backing to the landmark but controversial move aimed at battling rising air pollution in the national capital.

Public Works Department Minister Satyendra Jain announced that private vehicles with odd registration numbers will ply on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and those with even numbers on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from January 1. There was no decision regarding Sundays.

Jain made it clear that the scheme — which when implemented would drastically reduce the number of vehicles on Delhi’s choking roads — can succeed only with people’s support.

“We need public participation for this initiative to succeed,” he said.

The minister, who also holds the health portfolio, said the pollution levels in Delhi were an “emergency” situation, leading to various health issues.

In a boost to the Delhi government, new Chief Justice T.S. Thakur said Supreme Court judges too want to help in curbing the alarming level of air pollution and he won’t mind boarding a bus to reach the country’s highest court.

He said if Supreme Court judges pooled cars, it would send the right message to the people.

“If a judge of Supreme Court can pool cars (with brother judges), it sends a message to the people that we have no problem,” he told reporters. “We can walk down or even take a bus.”

The chief justice’s comments came at a time when political parties opposed to Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party — in contrast to environmental experts — have hit out at the Delhi government for announcing a decision which they said would greatly inconvenience the public.

On Saturday, Kejriwal said he had been rushed into this decision because of judicial intervention and that the restrictions on cars would tried for 10 to 15 days to see if the programme can succeed.